An Inventory of the His Collection at the Benson Latin American Collection

Literary productions, correspondence, literary productions, legal and financial documents pertaining to literary, legal, and military activities of Vicente Riva Palacio and to the history, politics, economics, and arts of Mexico.

OCLC Record No.

32288987

Extent

10.25 linear feet

Language

Spanish or Castilian.

Repository

Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

Lawyer, general, politician, diplomat, historian, and writer. Vicente Riva Palacio's parents were Mariano Riva Palacio and Dolores Guerrero, who was the daughter of Vicente Guerrero and Guadalupe Hernández. Vicente, who received his law degree in 1854, maintained a legal practice while intermittently holding public office, going to war, and pursuing a literary career. He held offices in the municipality of Mexico City; the constituent and national congresses; the Supreme Court of Justice; the Ministry of Fomento, Colonización, Industria, y Comercio; and Mexico's diplomatic corps in Spain and Portugal. In addition, he participated in the revolution of Ayutla and the French intervention, and directed and wrote for several newspapers. Through his journalism, he contributed to the downfall of the governments of Emperor Maximilian and Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada and to the ascent of Porfirio Díaz.

Vicente Riva Palacio was the author of many literary and historical works, including the following:

Novels:

Calvario y tabor,

Monja y casada, virgen y mártir,

Martín Garatuza,

Las dos emparedadas: Memorias de la Inquisición,

Los piratas del golfo,

La vuelta de los muertos,

Memorias de un impostor: Don Guillén de Lampart, rey de México,

Un secreto que mata;

books of poetry:

Flores de alma,

Páginas en verso,

Mis versos;

theatrical works written in collaboration:

Las liras hermanas;

histories and criticisms:

Historia de la administración de don Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada,

Los ceros,

México a través de los siglos, v.2, El virreinato,

El libro rojo (in collaboration);

stories and legends:

Cuentos de un loco,

Cuentos del general,

Tradiciones y leyendas mexicanas (in collaboration).

Chronology

1832

born in Mexico City.

1845

entered the Colegio de San Gregorio

?

fought in the war against the U.S.?

1854

received law degree, then participated in the revolution of Ayutla

1855

regidor in the municipality of Mexico City

1856

alternate deputy to the constituent congress

1856-1857

secretary of the ayuntamiento of Mexico City until Comonfort took over the government

1858-April 1860

imprisoned because of his liberal ideas

1861

after the War of the Reform, became diputado to the national congress and wrote for the newspaper La Orquesta

1861

wrote dramas and comedies in collaboration with Juan A. Mateos

1862

organized a guerrilla force and joined General Ignacio Zaragoza to fight against the French intervention

1862-1867

continued to fight against the French intervention

1862-1863

Jefe de la línea de Sur de la carretera between Puebla and Veracruz

1862

designated governor of the state of Mexico

1864

Named general de brigada; named jefe de estado mayor; named second in command of the division and chief of the third brigade. Troops under his command took Zitácuaro from the French.

1865-1866

founded and published the newspaper El Pito Real

1865

Designated governor of Michocán; upon the death of General José María Arteaga, Riva Palacio was named General en Jefe del Ejército del Centro.

1865

negotiated an exchange of prisoners with the French

1866?

turned over the Ejército del Centro to Nicolás de Régules, then organized other bands of fighters

1867

was involved in founding and writing for the newspaper El Radical, which remained active until 1873

1867

participated in the sieges of Toluca, Querétaro, and Mexico City

1867-1870

1873

unsuccessful candidate for president of the Supreme Court of Justice

December 1874

founded the newspaper El Ahuizote, which was published until at least 1876

1876

Minister of Fomento, Colonización, Industria y Comercio; resigned the same year

1876

dedicated himself to writing

1882

collaborated in the foundation of the Ateneo Mexicano de Ciencias y Artes and served as its president

1884

diputado in the government of President Manuel González

1884

Accused of conspiracy and imprisioned; while in the military prison of Santiago, he wrote the second volume of México a través de los siglos. Retired from the military after his release from prison.

1886

Ministro Plenipotenciario of Mexico in Spain and Portugal. While in Madrid, he developed significant relations with Spanish artists, intellectuals, and politicians.

The Archives subgroup contains correspondence, literary productions, financial documents, official and legal documents, lists, newspaper clippings, and assorted documents pertaining to the history, politics, economics, and arts of Mexico; to the legal, literary, and military activities of Vicente Riva Palacio; and to his private life and that of his family. Many letters and other items reflect Vicente Riva Palacio's activities in support of the arts and sciences, especially in the organization of exhibitions.

Correspondence consists primarily of letters and telegrams to Vicente Riva Palacio but includes correspondence and assorted papers (1831-1880) of Vicente's
father, Mariano Riva Palacio, and grandmother, Guadalupe Hernández de Guerrero. At least 180 of the letters to Vicente Riva Palacio are from Porfirio Díaz and date from 1877-1896. Among the many correspondents are Manuel Payno, Matías Romero, and José Vicente Villada. Letter books describe letters, dated 1876-1878, from public figures, family members, and friends.

Literary productions, primarily written by Vicente Riva Palacio, include essays, speechs, poems, research notes, reports on scientific matters, and other writings. Financial documents include records of Vicente Riva Palacio's income and expenses and Mariano Riva Palacio's records of the income and expenses of the municipality of Mexico from December 31, 1867 to July, 1868 and May, 1869. Lists are of military personnel, property, and reference resources.

Organization

Arrangement

Documents in the Archives subgroup have been numbered on at least three different occasions in the past. The latest numbering was done by Jack Autrey Dabbs when he compiled an unpublished guide to the collection in the 1980's. The numbering in that guide includes the wallet number plus the document number. Numbers on the documents themselves include only the document number. Dabbs usually numbered only the first leaf of each document, and wrote in a larger and firmer hand than that employed in previous numberings. A few exceptions can be found in which the numbering on a document has not been changed to correspond with that in the guide. When a document cannot be located by number, it is suggested that dates, if any, be utilized for location purposes.